PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Former Emory & Henry College football coach Lou Wacker is one of seven members of the 2014 induction class of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, VSHFM officials announced Thursday afternoon. Per tradition, the official introduction of the new inductees took place on the floor of the Senate at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.

Wacker, a native of Richmond, was an outstanding football player at the University of Richmond before starting his football coaching career. He coached at Midlothian High School before joining the staff at Hampden-Sydney College, where he built a defensive powerhouse over the next two decades as a defensive coordinator.

After 24 years with H-SC, Wacker became the head football coach at Emory & Henry in 1982. He spent 23 seasons with the Wasps and won nearly 70 percent of his games with an overall record of 164-76. The Wasps had only one winning season in their past 13 before Wacker’s arrival but he guided E&H to 17 consecutive winning years (1984-00).

Wacker was voted Old Dominion Athletic Conference Coach of the Year a record five times and has more football wins than any other conference coach, on his way to a record of eleven conference championships and five appearances in the NCAA Division III Playoffs. His leadership also produced five ODAC Players of the Year, 136 First Team All-ODAC players and 36 All-Americans.

Wacker is also a member of Hall of Fames at Highland Springs High School, the University of Richmond, Hampden-Sydney College and Emory & Henry College.

President of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Eddie Webb notes, “This outstanding class has reached the pinnacle of success in their respective sports. Their extensive careers have set them apart from the rest of the pack.”

The 43rd annual Induction Banquet will take place on Saturday, April 26 at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel & Waterfront Conference Center in Portsmouth, Va., as the headline event of Hall of Fame weekend. Tickets are now on sale. For more information, call (757) 393-8031 or visit www.vshfm.com.